Glaucus

I've heard that the line ratings on rods are useless/pointless.

I've stopped messing with braid and fluoro. My finesse spinning stuff has Yo Zuri Hybrid in 6lb and my casting stuff has Trilene. No leaders, problem free. Don't even notice braid casting that much further than copoly for it to matter.

Being in North Central Illinois, the fishing season has been over for me for a little while now. Looking back, I had a really fun season. For the first time ever, I largely skipped out on LMB fishing in favor of SMB fishing. I had the time of my life on the river. First fish of the season. What a donkey: First (and one of few) decent LMB of the season. I didn't go to work that day because I had Norovirus. It was my 28th birthday too. As it was my birthday, I mustered up some strength to go to the tiny pond a couple blocks away to fish for 20 minutes: The season got juicy from there as I spent 99% of my time on the river chasing Smallies. My first big SMB: I looked like a little kid after catching this fatty: Another nice one on the Ned Rig: Whopper Plopper fish? Whopper Plopper fish! This thing was a beast. I've never had a bass peel drag on a casting setup the way she did. Absolutely incredible to watch her fighting in relatively clear, green tea water, right in front of me: I got this one on a KVD 1.5 right before the lightning struck. What was a promising night was cut too short, as was my season: It was an amazing season and I can't wait for spring. My wife had a great season too, but she doesn't like her photos online. We've restocked our gear and have ordered some brand new kayaks. We're going to start the season with a river tournament with 2 other couples. Guys vs Girls, 3v3. Here's to an even better 2019! This is what happens after you end a day long fishing trip with your wife and buddies at the bar. You end up passed out drunk in a shopping cart somewhere. Or maybe it's just me:

We settled on the Old Town Vapor 10 Angler. It's a sit in but hits everything we wanted at the price range for the most part.

My family knows not to buy me fishing gear/tackle. It's too specialized. Much better to get me giftcards to tackle shops.

My wife and I have spent these cold days on replacement gear and tackle. Now we've got about $1,000 (little more, little less) of fishing budget left and we're looking into 2 fishing kayaks. As it stands we have a couple of cheap kayaks that aren't really meant for fishing and which become uncomfortable after a short while. They're sit-ins. We're looking to sit on top, but sitting inside a comfortable kayak is fine too. Looking for something in the 500 dollar range per kayak (can be a little more, but nothing over 600 and closer to 500 if possible). We will be using these in small to medium sized Rivers, but mostly small (3 to 5 feet... One river will average 7-10 feet). Some small rapids and some sharp bends that can be a bit fast moving and turn the yak around if you're not on your game. I mention river conditions because we've never sat on top, always in, and don't know if that has any impact.

You always can. Mono didn't suddenly stop working because of the popularity of braid, fluoro, and hybrids. Fish don't suddenly have an aversion to it because some guys tell you you have to use fluoro now.

Groundhog Day

What's wrong with taking back 10-15 year old gear that was used and that didn't hold up? If they are going to offer lifetime, they should expect gear listed as lifetime to be brought back if it doesn't last. I don't think that's abuse of the system.

Get a ML/F or M/F spinning setup. Get a M/F casting setup. Get a MH/F casting setup. You've now essentially covered a majority of your bases. You can do almost anything. I would go moderate in price to be able to have nice gear AND options.

It's the water you're fishing. Your water sucks. Move to a different body of water. The start to this season sucked for me too. Water that had always produced became trash. Thought it was me until I moved to different water. Turned out to be the best season of my life. People talking about fall transition, meanwhile it's 90 degrees with a real feel approaching 100 today here in Illinois and it's going to be this way for another week.

You can catch river Smallies until the water freezes.

Most of my bigger fish are not on finesse baits, but my absolute biggest fish are on finesse baits.

People forget fluorocarbon didn't use to exist.

Beats drinking too much hops and throwing up and driving wreckless.

It is estimated that it will be federally legal before 2030. ;)

Fishing has been the best form of therapy for my PTSD, anxiety (including the OCD form), and depression. Fishing has made me a best friend. A guy that I was only ever acquaintances with at best has developed into a brother to me through our shared passion.

Reminds me of when I'm messing with my son and I wrap him up in a blanket over his whole body. Freaks out, yells, jerks, shakes, flops until he's free. No skill required, no brains required. Just lost your mind until you're free.

Last year I had a Whopper Plopper get me in the hand and wrist with a 3 pound largemouth on the other end who thought he was a 6 pound smallmouth. Imagine that thing going crazy with the hooks in you with nothing supporting it but the hooks in your body. Miraculously didn't go barb deep though. Apparently I still haven't learned.

I would make a better ad campaign than Kaepernick. Just do it baby.

I stick to a few proven brands and a few proven sizes in a few proven colors. Doesn't get any simpler.

A buddy and I went night fishing with crankbaits tonight. As we're preparing, I went to grab my pliers out of my fishing backpack only to discover that I had left them at home. The feeling of dread and doom and fear washed over me as the images of smallmouth with crankbaits in their lips flashed through my mind like Vietnam War flashbacks. And, of course, a smallmouth had to eat the crankbait so hard that it lodged in the back of its throat. That was... Fun.

Decent largemouth on the Ned Rig earlier in the evening. Took a break and met up with my buddy for a little night action. Got a good smallmouth on a crankbait, but then storms rolled in and we had to call it quits far too early. That smallmouth ate the crankbait completely. Lodged it in the back of its throat.

Went back out this evening. Got a beauty on the Whopper Plopped.

Do you live by a river or have easy access to one? The pond and lake bite for Larries has been bad for me. River Smallies are hitting like crazy. Could be an option? Not sure where you're from. Try to find a river dam.